Hem folding attachment

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a hem folding attachment for the sewing machine which includes first and second folder sections individually movable between operative and open positions and cooperative with a fixed edge guide, the attachment being readily adaptable to existing sewing machines and being selectively manually and power actuated.

United States Patent Sharp Aug. 14, 1973 [54] HEM FOLDING A'ITACHIVIENT 1,249,508 12/1917 Rosenau 112/ 143 2,028,773 l/l936 [75] Inventor: James E. Sharp, Chicago, 111. 3,142,277 7/1964 Assignee: Union Machine Chicago, Ill.

Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin [22] 1971 Assistant Examiner-William L. Falk [21] App]. No.; 190,802 Attorney-Charles E. Brown et al.

521 vu.s. c1 112/143, 112/147, 112/153 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl D05b 35/02 This i o ur la to a hem folding attachment for [58] Field of Search .1127140-1 43, he sewing machine which includes first and second 136, 152-153, 147, 121.12, folder sections individually movable between operative 121.15, 121.26, 121,27, 177 and open positions and cooperative with a fixed edge guide, the attachment being readily adaptable to exist- [56] References Cited ing sewing machines and being selectively manually and power actuated.

14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PArzmwwm 5,752,100

SHEEI 1 0F 2 INVENTDR JAMES E SHARP ATTORNEYS PATENIEU 3.752.100

sum 2 or z INVENTDR JAMES 5 5%? RP E flag QTTOENEYS HEM FOLDING ATTACHMENT This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in attachments for sewing machines, and more particularly to a hem folding attachment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known to provide hem folding attachments for sewing machines. It is also well known to provide hem folding attachments wherein one of the folder sec tions is movable relative to another of the folder sections in order to effect the positioning of material therein. However, more than this is required for a commercially acceptable hem folding attachment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided a hem folding attachment which includes first and second folder sections each mounted for movement between an operative position and a closed position whereby material to be hemmed may be readily positioned within the folding attachment.

Another feature of the hem folding attachment is the incorporation therein with the two movable folder sections, a fixed edge guide for the material.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a hem folding attachment which includes a first folder section of a generally U-shaped configuration and a second folder section in the form of a tongue projecting into the U-shaped configuration of the first folder section, and the first folder section being mounted relative to a cloth plate of a sewing machine whereby when it is moved to an open position away from the spcond folder section, it is also moved laterally away from the cloth plate so as to facilitate the positioning of material within the hem folding attachment.

Still another feature of this invention is the formation of a hem folding attachment which simply includes a bracket having slidably mounted thereon two folder sections, and means for moving the folder sections generally in unison between operative positions and open remote positions.

In accordance with the foregoing, the single bracket mounting the two folder sections has associated therewith a fixed edge guide for material being folded within the folding attachment.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of manually actuable means for moving the folder sec tions apart to an open position, and there being means for automatically returning the folder sections to their operative relationship.

A further feature of the invention is the construction of the hem folding attachment wherein power actuating means may be utilized if so desired.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of a hem folding attachment which is openable to facilitate the feeding of material thereinto and which folding attachment is also readily adjustable in its operative position so as to assure alignment of folded material with the needle of an associated sewing machine.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of a sewing machine incorporating the hem folder.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the sewing machine of FIG. 1 and shows specifically the details of the hem folder and the relationship thereof to other components of the sewing machine.

FIG. 3 is a rotated elevational view of the hem folder removed from the sewing machine.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the hem folder taken from the right in FIG. 3 with a portion of a folder section broken away.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a schematic elevational view showing the manner in which the folder sections may be positioned by means of hydraulic cylinders.

FIG. 7 is a schematic elevational view showing the relationship of the hem folding attachment with respect to a cloth plate and a needle of a sewing machine and shows the specific position of material therein folded ready for stitching.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a conventional sewing machine which is generally identified by the numeral 20 and for descriptive purposes, may be considered to be of the type disclosed in the patent to Wallenberg, et a]. U.S. Pat. No. 2,704,042, granted Mar. l5, I955. The sewing machine 20 includes a frame 21 which has mounted thereon in the customary manner a cloth plate 22, a needle arm 23, which supports a needle 24, and a pressure foot 25 (FIG. 2).

In accordance with this invention there is mounted on the frame 21 in association with the cloth plate 22 in a material folder assembly, generally identified by the numeral 26, the material folder assembly 26 being positioned for folding material in advance of movement thereof beneath the pressure foot 25 for the sewing thereof by the needle 24. The specifically illustrated material folder assembly is a hem folder, and the sewing machine 20 is an overedge sewing machine equipped to produce a blindstitch seam. This is the preferred embodiment or use of the invention, but it is to be understood that the principals of the folder con-' struction are not restricted to one utilized in a blindstitch hemming operation, and the configuration of the material folding sections, to be described hereinafter, may be varied in accordance with the particular requirements of a desired material folding operation.

Referring now to FIG. 3 in particular, it will be seen that the folder assembly 26 includes a support bracket 27 which is provided on one face thereof with a vertically extending key type projection 28. The projection 28 is tightly receivable within a groove (not shown) in a knife support block 30 (FIG. 1) of the sewing machine 20. A screw 31 carried by the support bracket 27 extends through the projection 28 and is threadable into a threaded bore (not shown) in the knife support block 30 to rigidly, yet removably, mount the support bracket 27.

It is to be noted that the support bracket 27 is of a Z- shaped configuration, in elevation, and that portion thereof remote from the projection 28 has formed in the upper surface thereof a groove 32 in which there is slidably received a key-type projection 33 of a block 34. The block 34, which is slidably mounted on the support bracket 27, is clamped in an adjusted position thereof to the support bracket 27 by means of a screw 35. The screw 35 freely passes through an elongated slot 36 in the support bracket 27 and is threaded into the underside of the block 34.

In order that the block 34 may be readily adjusted relative to the support bracket 27, the extreme end of the support bracket 27 remote from the projection 28 has threaded thereinto a knurled head shoulder screw 37. An arm 38 is carried by the screw 37 for movement therewith while permitting relative rotation of the screw 37. The arm 38 extends substantially vertically and has the upper end thereof fixedly secured to the end of the block 34 by means of a screw 40. Thus, by rotating the screw 37, the block 34 may be accurately positioned relative to the support bracket 27.

The upper part of the end of the block 34 remote from the arm 38 is notched and has seated therein an edge guide member 41. The edge guide member 41 is secured in place by means of a screw 42.

A stepped bracket 43 is removably secured in overlying supported relation to the block 34 by means of a screw 44. An elevated upper portion of the bracket 43 has an oblique upper surface which is provided with a groove 45 in which there is received in sliding relation, a strip member 46. The strip member 46 is slidably retained within the groove 45 by means of a cover plate 47 which is secured to the bracket 43 by means of suitable fasteners 48. 1

The strip 46 has a downwardly sloping inner end portion 50 which is provided with a pair of upturned side walls 51. Between these side walls there is received a mounting portion of a first, movable, folder section 52. A screw 53 serves to rigidly secure the mounting portion of the folder section 52 to the strip member 46.

The guide bracket 43 (FIG. has formed in the underside thereof a groove 54 which is closed by the upper surface of the block 34 and which has received therein for sliding movement, a tongue shaped second folder section 55.

It is to be noted that the folder section 52 is generally U-shaped in elevation and includes a lower blade 56 having an elongated outline, as is best shown in FIG. 2. An edge or tip 57 of the blade 56 terminates adjacent the edge guide 41 and cooperates therewith in the folding of material.

It is also to be noted that the upper part of the folder section 52 is provided along the forward edge thereof with adepending flange 58. It will be readily apparent from the schematic showing of FIG. 7 that the flange 58 cooperates with the remainder of the first folder section to maintain the alignment of material within the folder.

The second folder section has the free end thereof projecting into the folder section 52 and terminates in a tapered tongue 60 having a widened outline, as is best shown in FIG. 2. It is to be understood that material being folded within the folder section 52 will be folded around the tongue 60.

In order to facilitate the insertion and removal of material from the folder assembly 26, the folder sections 52 and 55 are movable in generally opposite direction. In order to facilitate this movement, a link 61 is connected to a tenninal portion 62 of the strap member 46 in any desired manner. A somewhat similar link 63 is secured to that end of the second folder section 55 remote from the tongue 60 thereof. It is to be understood that the links 61 and 63 may be reciprocated in any practical manner in order to effect the opening and closing of the folder assembly 26. Alternative operating mechanisms are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6.

With reference to FIG. 1, it will be seen that a suitable upright plate 64 is mounted at the front of the frame of the sewing machine 20. The plate 64 has pivotally mounted thereon a T-shaped lever 65, the lever 65 being carried by a pivot member 66 which may be in the form of a shoulder screw. The T-shaped lever includes an upright bar portion which includes an upper leg 67 and a lower leg 68, and a generally horizontally disposed stem portion 70.

A spring 71 extends between the leg 67 and the plate 64 and constantly urges the lever 65 in a counterclockwise direction. Pivoting of the lever 65 in a counterclockwise direction is limited by means of a stop pin 72, which is engaged by the leg 68.

It is to be noted that a guide sleeve73 is suitably mounted on the plate 64 and has slidably received therein an intermediate portion of the link 61, the link 61 being in the form of a wire. The end of the wire 61 remote from the strap mem er 46 is connected to the leg 68 by means of an adjustable clamp 74 rotatably carrieby the leg 68. In a like manner, the link 63 is in the form of a wire which is adjustably secured to the leg 67 by means of a camp member 75 which is rotatably carried by the leg 67. The wire 63 extends through a guide tube 76 by the upper part of the plate 64.

The sewing machine 20 has associated therewith a treadle 77 which is illustrated as being a foot actuated treadle, but which could be any actuated threadle. The treadle has connected thereto a wire or link 78 which has the opposite end thereof connected to the stem 70. It will be readily apparent that when the treadle 77 is depressed, the lever 65 will be rotated in a clockwise direction and the wire 61 will push the first folder section 52 to the left, as viewed inFIG. 1. At the same time, the wire 63 will pull the second folder section 55 to the right. In this manner, the folder sections 52 and 55 are simultaneously 0moved apart in a transverse direction. Further, inasumch as the folder section 52 is carried by the strap member 46 and movement of the strap member 46 generally to the left in FIG. 1 will also result in movement of the strap member upwardly, it will be seen that when the folder section 52 is moved to the left to an open position, it is also moved laterally upwardly away from the cloth plate 22 so as to provide a greater spacing between the folder section 52 and the clotth plate 22 with the result that cloth may be more easily fed into or removed from the folder assembly 26.

Reference is now made to the schematic illustration of FIG. 6 wherein it will be seen that the links 61 and 63 have been illustrated as piston rods of extensible fluid cylinders 80 and 81, respectively. The fluid cylinders 80 and 81 may be mounted on the sewing machine 20 in any desired manner and will be parts of a conventional fluid system which may be controlled by any desired type of valve (not shown). It is to be understood that the extensible fluid motors 80, 81 are preferably of the single acting type although they could be of the double acting type. The extensible fluid cylinders 80,81 will be connected in the conventional fluid system so as to operate in unison.

OPERATION With particular reference to FIG. 7, it will be seen that the material M which is to be hemmed is principally supported by the cloth plate 22 and has the marginal portion thereof feeding through the folder assembly 26. The marginal portion of the material is first reversely folded about the tip 57 of the blade 56 of the first folder section 52 in conjunction with the edge guide 41. The marginal portion of the material is then reversely folded about the tongue 60 of the second folder section 55 and extends in the space between the upper surface of the second folder section 55 and the upper part of the first folder seciton 52.

It is to be noted that the first reverse fold of the material M, that is the fold about the blade 57 is generally aligned with the needle 24. On the other hand, the extreme marginal edge of the material extends to the right, as viewd in FIG. 7, beyond this fold. The sewing machine may be equipped with a knife (not shown) which will trim the extra material before the necessary stitching has been effected.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the folder has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the folder configuration and the means for effecting the shifting and positioning thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hem folder, a first folder section, a second folder section cooperable with said first folder section, said first and second folder sections having material guiding and folding means cooperable to effect transverse folding of an edge portion of material during longitudinal movement movement of such material through said cooperable folder sections, mounting means mounting said first and second folder sections for normal hem folding cooperation with one another and for free and simulatneous opening movement in generally opposite transverse directions, and remotely operable control means connected to each of said folder sections for effecting movement and positioning thereof.

2. The hem folder of claim 1 wherein said mounting means are in the form of a single bracket.

3. The mem folder of claim 2 wherein said mounting bracket has separate guideways for said first folder section and said second folder section.

4. The hem folder of claim 3 wherein said guideway for said first folder section slopes both transversely and laterally whereby said hem folder opens both transversely and laterally.

5. The hem folder of claim 2 together with an edge guide fixedly mounted relative to said bracket.

6. The hem folder of claim 5 wherein said bracket has associated therewith a block on which said edge guide is mounted, and said block cooperates with said bracket to define said guideway for said second folder section.

7. The hem folder of claim 6 together with a support bracket having means for rigid attachment to a sewing machine, and cooperating means on said block and said support bracket adjustably and rigidly mounting said block on said support bracket.

8. The hem folder of claim 1 together with a fixedly mounted edge guide cooperating with said first and second folder sections.

9. The hem folder of claim 1 wherein said first and second folder sections are configurated to form a blind stitch hem fold.

10. The hem folder of claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for automatically positioning said folder sections in cooperating operative positions.

11. The hem folder of claim 1 wherein said control means cincludes manually operable mechanism.

12. The hem folder of claim 1 wherein said control means are of the power actuated type.

13. A hem folder, a first folder section, a section folder section cooperable with said first folder section, said first and second folder sections having material guiding and folding means cooperable to effect transverse folding of an edge portion of material during longitudinal movement of such material through said cooperable folder sections, mounting means mounting said first and second folder sections for normal hem folding cooperation with one another and for free opening movmeent in generally opposite transverse directions, remotely operable control means connected to each of said folder sections for effecting movement and positioning thereof, a cloth plate having a material engaging surface, said folder attachment overlying said cloth plate, and said mounting means including means mounting siad first folder section for the movement of said first folder section away from said cloth plate generally normal to said cloth engaging surface during the opening movement of said first folder section.

14. The hem folding attachment of claim 13 wherein said means mounting said folder sections is transversely adjustable relative to said cloth plate.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,752, 100 DATED August 14, 1973 lNvENTOR(S) James E. Sharp It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 514 read "spcond" as second Column 2, line 34, "in" should be omitted; Column 4, line 21, read "mem er 46" as member 46 Column 4, line 23, read "carrieby" as carried by Column 4, line 25, read "camp member 75" as clamp member 75 Column 4, line 27, read "guide tube 76 by the upper part. as

guide tube 76 carried by the upper part. Column 4, line 39, after "simultaneously" and before "moved" omit "0''; Column 4, line 48, read "clotth as cloth Column 5, line 31, delete "movement" (second occurrence) Column 5, line 41, read "mem" as hem Column 6, line 22, read "cincludes" as includes Column 6, line 34, read "movmeent" as movement Column 6, line 40, read "siad as said Signed and Sealed this twenty-ninth Day Of July 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH c. MASON c. MARSHALL DANN AINSliHg Officer (ummissimu'r uj'latenrs and Trademarks 

1. A hem folder, a first folder section, a second folder section cooperable with said first folder section, said first and second folder sections having material guiding and folding means cooperable to effect transverse folding of an edge portion of material during longitudinal movement movement of such material through saiD cooperable folder sections, mounting means mounting said first and second folder sections for normal hem folding cooperation with one another and for free and simulatneous opening movement in generally opposite transverse directions, and remotely operable control means connected to each of said folder sections for effecting movement and positioning thereof.
 2. The hem folder of claim 1 wherein said mounting means are in the form of a single bracket.
 3. The mem folder of claim 2 wherein said mounting bracket has separate guideways for said first folder section and said second folder section.
 4. The hem folder of claim 3 wherein said guideway for said first folder section slopes both transversely and laterally whereby said hem folder opens both transversely and laterally.
 5. The hem folder of claim 2 together with an edge guide fixedly mounted relative to said bracket.
 6. The hem folder of claim 5 wherein said bracket has associated therewith a block on which said edge guide is mounted, and said block cooperates with said bracket to define said guideway for said second folder section.
 7. The hem folder of claim 6 together with a support bracket having means for rigid attachment to a sewing machine, and cooperating means on said block and said support bracket adjustably and rigidly mounting said block on said support bracket.
 8. The hem folder of claim 1 together with a fixedly mounted edge guide cooperating with said first and second folder sections.
 9. The hem folder of claim 1 wherein said first and second folder sections are configurated to form a blind stitch hem fold.
 10. The hem folder of claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for automatically positioning said folder sections in cooperating operative positions.
 11. The hem folder of claim 1 wherein said control means cincludes manually operable mechanism.
 12. The hem folder of claim 1 wherein said control means are of the power actuated type.
 13. A hem folder, a first folder section, a section folder section cooperable with said first folder section, said first and second folder sections having material guiding and folding means cooperable to effect transverse folding of an edge portion of material during longitudinal movement of such material through said cooperable folder sections, mounting means mounting said first and second folder sections for normal hem folding cooperation with one another and for free opening movmeent in generally opposite transverse directions, remotely operable control means connected to each of said folder sections for effecting movement and positioning thereof, a cloth plate having a material engaging surface, said folder attachment overlying said cloth plate, and said mounting means including means mounting siad first folder section for the movement of said first folder section away from said cloth plate generally normal to said cloth engaging surface during the opening movement of said first folder section.
 14. The hem folding attachment of claim 13 wherein said means mounting said folder sections is transversely adjustable relative to said cloth plate. 